almost 8 weeks and frustrated!!!

I have not been upset or frustrated during this whole time until the past 5 days or so.

Short background: TVH on 12/13, easy surgery, per Dr.
Fever 5 days post-op sends us to ER, admitted on iv antibiotics for 3 days. Return 4 days later due to fever, admitted on iv antibiotics again. This time pelvic abscess is confirmed, surgery to remove abscess and right ovary and tube...home on 12/31. Jan 5, learn of second abscess, but looks walled-off. Jan 11 fever returns, ER trip, admitted on iv antibiotics. Jan 12 drain is inserted through back side to drain abscess at vaginal cuff. Spend 9 nights, home on iv antibiotics via PICC line.

First frustration...after being home for a week, I go out for a short time (2 hours) and I feel great (date: 1/27). A couple of days later I take my DD out for lunch, back home in one hour. The next day, Monday, I run to get some things from the grocery, gone for 20 minutes. I return home, have a message from the infectious disease doc (he joined the team of docs during last hospital stay and is the one who ordered the PICC line to deliver antibiotics). When I return their call, they scold me for being out. Apparently, I should not be in contact with anyone as the risk of getting something on top of the pelvic infections is too great. This was not mentioned to me when I was discharged from the hospital. It was not written on my yellow discharge sheet.

Home health nurse come on Tuesday 1/31 to change PICC dressing. I told her what happened, and she is like, yeah, you really should not be going anywhere or seeing anyone as long as I have the PICC line. Okay, there are many others out there with a PICC line and many of them do not have to have limited contact with the outside world. Finally I am told that it is because of how my immune system is sluggish, and if I were to become ill with a cold or other, I would have to be admitted again. Okay, I can deal. Appt with infectious disease doc on 2/1 went okay, but found out that I will probably have PICC line until my repeat CT scan on 2/15. Extremely frustrated...have not seen friends, had a life since before the TVH. If I have to keep this line until the followup scan, I will not be able to attend my DD's musical performance at school later this week.

I have not missed a single event in my DD's life. I am very active at her school as a full-time volunteer. In Dec. I missed her class party...knew this, planned on it, discussed it, it was okay. Missed most of the holiday break, as I was in the hospital for all but Christmas weekend. Our weekends had been full of fun, shopping, going to movies, etc...but for the past couple of months, I am unable to go anywhere.

Okay, to top it all off, Thursday, 2/2 I am standing at the counter for 20 minutes preparing dinner. I am in so much pain...Vicodin did nothing. Go to GYN on Friday, does an internal exam and it did not feel so good. She had done one the previous week and I tolerated it quite well. She feels "fullness" that was not there last week. I have had more drainage than before, so we think that there must be a 3rd abscess. Ultrasound shows an ovarian cyst (lt ovary) measuring 3x5 inches, or the size of a softball. She then proceeds to tell me that both ovaries had the same approx. size cysts when she performed the TVH. The thing here is that I did not have pain with those...I had no idea that they were that large until she mentioned it on Friday.

Bottom line: I am almost 8 weeks post-op TVH, almost 6 weeks post-op laparotomy to remove abscess, ovary and tube and I cannot stand for more than 20 minutes without being in unbearable pain. I did receive some Percocet tablets, but the pain is still there, if not as bad. I am unable to go anywhere, my friends are all unable to come over (they all have kids who have been sick at some point or other in the last 2 weeks) and I am just plain old frustrated. When is this going to end???? And to add to the list of worries, we have a vacation booked less than 6 weeks away!!!! Luckily we have travel insurance, but I and my family are so looking forward to this, especially after all that we have been through.

Sorry for the rambling!!!! Fortunately, my husband and daughter have been so wonderful, patient, understanding, loving, and helpful. (I do not know for how much longer that will last, as we have had moments this weekend that show how close to the edge we are getting!

Thanks to anyone that reads this! It so helps just getting it off my chest!

Smiles,
Jen

Glad you were able to get it off your chest!! Sometimes, it helps to get things out. Seems like you have had a good run of not so good stuff. Hope you are feeling bettersoon.

I haven't had all the issues you posted about. I had a TVH on 1/13, rectocele/cystocele and bladder lift. Kept both ovaries and tubes.

Hopefully, your pain will subside and you can return to your normal routines soon. I know that's driving me nuts to think I am back in full gear and next thing you know...it hurts again! ...

Well, hang in there...

az...aka edna

Jen what a lot to deal with, I was feeling a little cranky because my pain became a little worse after 10 days, but after I read what you have been dealing with, my problems now seem miniscule. You sound like a very strong person with a very loving family, to help you thru this. Are the antibiotics working now, I hope you continue to feel better you deserve it. Best wishes for your continuing recovery.

Jen the going has been tough & the tough can't go shopping. You did not say how old your DD is.Try to get as much rest as you can. My Dr. said to go with being tired....just body healing itself.You seem to be fighting a hard battle.Maybe give in a bit. I'm sure your DD will understand that Mum.s get sick also. I hope that you can rest & get better quickly.

Hang in the Jen, hopefully the worst is behind you now and you'll soon feel better. In the meantime, just try to rest.